The Central Plains Capitals left Winnipeg bumped and bruised after last night's 8-3 loss to the Wild in Manitoba AAA Hockey at the MTS Iceplex.

A slow start put the Caps down 4-nothing 15 minutes into the first period. Defenseman Logan Calder was able to cut the lead to 1 late in the third, in a forgettable first.

The second wasn't much better, as again the Caps allowed 4 goals to their 1, which came from Mitchell Wilson on the Powerplay.

Central Plains finally found their form in the third, allowing no goals against and winning the period battle thanks to Calder's second of the night early into the frame.

"The biggest difference between the 3rd and 1st period was that we actually played the 3rd period. The first we had nothing, no jump, no spark, no enthusiasm, no winning races or winning battles," says Head Coach Brad Gnidziejko. "In the third we were doing all of that, competing for the puck, we got involved with our bodies throwing hits, and it did give us a bit of momentum. Not a total loss, but still disappointing to come out as flat as we did."

Gnidziejko says the boys realize now that if they're not going to compete for every puck, come ready to play, and play every shift like it's their last, they won't find that much success this year.

The Caps are in Kenora this weekend for two games against the Thistles